PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA INTERNATIONAL SUMMER UNIVERSITY 2014

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1 PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA INTERNATIONAL SUMMER UNIVERSITY 2014 Project Manager: Prof. Ass. Dr. Hasnije Ilazi Vice-Rector for International Relations University of Prishtina Project Leader: Lumnije BAJRAMI, PhD Candidate Head of the International Relations Office

2 UPISU Role Since its establishment, University of Prishtina International Summer University has played an important role in the internationalization of higher education in Kosova. UPISU has managed to bring young people together from different countries around the world, without distinction of any kind, such as language, culture, colour or religion, fostering the development of academic and scientific capacities. Thus, the result is a starting point for students to form new friendships and foster the development of professional cooperation. The aim of the establishment of Summer University is to bring international students and professors together in this part of the Western Balkan region in order to allow for an exchange of their experiences and knowledge from their study fields. Prishtina Summer University also aims to establish and expand the cooperation between the University of Prishtina and international universities. In addition, summer school aims are: 1. To provide an opportunity for students to attend specific courses that are not part of the curriculum and that fulfil the additional knowledge in their respective field; 2. To provide an opportunity for students to get extra credits toward graduation; 3. To develop students academic performances by the best local and international lecturers; Our vision is to develop a school in accordance with standards and the most advanced teaching and learning methods, in a two-week period. UPISU believes that all students should have access to multidisciplinary summer teaching programs that help to enrich and supplement the knowledge and skills acquired during the regular studies, as well as to encourage academic achievement and development. This summer school will provide new programs that actively engage students and professors, by making the summer program an essential component of all effort of promoting cooperation and intercommunication, exchanging ideas, thoughts, knowing new cultures and, above all, sharing academic experiences between participants of this school, already traditional in the University of Prishtina. In previous editions, the Summer University was attended by students and 400 local and international teachers. University of Prishtina International Summer University is organized under the auspices of Vice-Rector for International Relations, Director of the Office for International Relations in cooperation with the officer of UPISU, administrative officers as well as logistics associates.

3 Edition for 2014 The 14th edition of the University of Prishtina International Summer University will be held on the University of Prishtina campus, from July 7 to July 18, courses in different fields of study are scheduled to be held during this two-week period. UPISU is open to all students and academic staff of universities and scientific institutes of all countries of the world. In this summer edition, about 350 students will be admitted, 150 of them will be international students, among them a significant number from Eastern Europe and the countries of the region: Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova and Romania. The rest of the participants are students from the University of Prishtina, including a small number of students from other institutions of higher education in the Republic of Kosova. Application for UPISU 2014 UPISU 2014 encourages all students and the academic staff to apply now! You can apply electronically, to mirjeta.ismajli@uni-pr.edu, or manually, at the Office of the Summer University, Faculty of Law Building, K / 4, Prishtine, Republic of Kosova. Application dates: Courses application for academic staff: October 14, December 14, 2013 Students: April 14, 2014 May 14, 2014 Selection The selection of courses is based on the needs of the respective faculties by the Commission of PISU. Emphasis will be given to the courses that affect the completion and development of professional knowledge depending on the field of study. For international students, one of the criteria for admission in UPISU will be the advanced knowledge of English language as well as the compatibility of the field of study with the selected course. Due to the large number of applicants, the selection of the local students will be based on the average grade and on the level of English knowledge. An English proficiency test will be conducted by the academic staff of the University of Prishtina.

4 Courses and teachers Nineteen courses/seminars in various areas of study, such as social science, law, economics, agriculture, mining and metallurgical, technical, arts, medicine, gender, as well as public discussions/panels and other recreational activities will be held during the 14th edition of the International Summer University. Courses will have modern literature (approximately 25 copies per course), which will be available to the students of PISU. The number of professors will be equal to the number of courses / seminars, one course unit per international teacher and a local teacher (as collaborators). For professors who are interested in being part of this project, it is necessary to have professional knowledge of the English language (in order to lecture in English), and high scientific qualifications. Certificates and ECTS credits Participants/students, who attend at least 80% of classes and pass exams, will receive ECTS credits through "The Certificate of Prishtina International Summer University". This certificate includes the description of the course, student ECTS credits, and grades. The certificate declares the name of the participants and will be signed by the visiting professor of UPISU and the co-professor. Certificates are designed according to the Bologna standards. * English will be the language of communication in all courses at the Prishtina International Summer University. Public forums/workshops Public forums, which raise debates over various socio-economic problems of society, will be part of the Summer University. During the Summer University, at least one open forum with students and participants will be organized. Important figureheads from our country will be invited to share their knowledge with students. Recreational activities The following recreational activities are planned to be held during the edition of 2014: Weekend excursions (2) An opening and closing dinner for the academic staff, UP and UPISU officials An opening and closing party for students of UPISU 2014 Student Evening Football tournament Other recreational activities

5 We thank all the donors from last year for their support of University of Prishtina International Summer University 2013: - Ministry of Education, Science and Technology - Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports - Municipality of Prishtina - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - British Council - International Committee of the Red Cross (Prishtine) - UNICEF (Prishtine) - Uji Rugova, company

6 Conclusion The 14 th edition of the University of Prishtina International Summer University will be held on the University of Prishtina campus, from 7 to 18 July, The University of Prishtina has experience in terms of successfully organizing the learning experience one acquires when attending PISU. Kosova s institutions are working together with our allies, in order to promote PISU s image and build a strong relationship between Kosova's youth, the youth of the region, and the world. UPISU strives to make this positive event an enriching learning experience that will be both informative and intellectually challenging. We hope that by doing so, our country will not remain in people's memories as a place of war and danger, but as a place of peace, development, and tolerance. As a result, we can freely say that through this two-week program, UPISU has successfully managed to break down barriers, remove prejudices that foreigners tend to have about the country, and has paved the way for the development of a new perspective when one thinks of Kosova. Thus, UPISU has become an integral part of promoting the image of Kosova, which in international relations is known as public diplomacy. We believe that the success we ve had in previous editions and the evidence provided above for the role and impact of UPISU are sufficient enough to argue for the continuity of PISU, and the care that should be given to this project.